Taiwan Butterflies in the mountainous area

[Onyx]

If you are planning to watch butterflies in Taiwan, it is a good idea to try your luck in the mountainous area instead of the low lands. Definitely, you have to be there in the right season. Unfortunately, many interesting butterflies do not occur at the same time so you will not see them all in one short trip.

May/June: Lala shan/Mingchi area (Beiheng Cross-Island Highway/Provincial Highway No.7)
July: Lishan/Hehuanshan/Taroko area (Central Cross-Island Highway/Provincial Highway No.8)

Here are two signature butterflies:

Agehana maraho (National butterfly of Taiwan, occur in May)
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090531_tw_21.jpg

Sasakia charonda (National butterfly of Japan, occur in June)
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_a2.jpg

Here comes the main course - Lycaenidae in the mountainous area.

Chrysozephyrus ataxus
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_92.jpg

Chrysozephyrus splendidulus
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_75.jpg

Chrysozephyrus mushaellus
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_49.jpg

Chrysozephyrus esakii
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_tw_trk_090628_18.jpg
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_tw_trk_090628_16.jpg

[Onyx]

(Continue)

Chrysozephyrus kabrua
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090629_tw_bilu_18.jpg

Neozephyrus taiwanus
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_38.jpg

Satyrium formosanum
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_14.jpg

Satyrium tanakai
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090529_tw_28.jpg

Ussuriana michaelis
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090531_tw_01.jpg

Japonica patungkoanui
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090629_tw_bilu_14.jpg

Starting from early/mid July, you may also find Atrophaneura horishana, aka "Watermelon butterfly" around Lishan/Hehuanshan area

Atrophaneura horishana
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_110910_tw_01.jpg
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_110910_tw_05.jpg

[bluefin]

Thanks for sharing these beautiful flyers Arex. :)

:cheers:

[Onyx]

I forgot this one...

Phengaris atroguttata
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090709_tw_08.jpg

And more Nymphalidae in the mountainous area

Calinaga buddha
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_110422_tw_004.jpg

Neptis taiwana
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090410_tw_31.jpg

Athyma fortuna
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090529_tw_14.jpg

Neptis ilos
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090630_bilu_26.jpg

Euthalia formosana
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_tw_lls_090627_07.jpg

[Onyx]

And Pieridae in the mountainous area

Aporia agathon
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090629_tw_bilu_07.jpg

Aporia potanini
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090630_sby_09.jpg

Delias lativitta
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_50.jpg

Gonepteryx taiwana
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_110423_tw_011.jpg

Gonepteryx amintha
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090629_tw_sby_13.jpg

[Onyx]

Here comes the skippers in the mountainous area

Celaenorrhinus horishanus
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090530_tw_69.jpg

Halpe gamma
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090529_tw_49.jpg

Ochlodes bouddha
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090630_bilu_35.jpg

Polytremis eltola
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090630_sby_08.jpg

Aeromachus bandaishanus
http://woxiong.butterfly-photo.com/albums/userpics/10001/normal_090629_tw_bilu_02.jpg

[moloch]

Beautiful photos, Arex. Some of those species are spectacular. Thanks for posting these.

Regards,
David

[atronox]

Nice lycaenids!!!
the Satyrium was surprising coz i thought it was a New World genus:)

[Bluebottle]

Great variety and beautiful photos! :thumbsup:
How many times have you visited Taiwan for shooting butterflies :)

[Onyx]

Great variety and beautiful photos! :thumbsup:
How many times have you visited Taiwan for shooting butterflies :)

Most of the photos were taken during the Mid-May trip and End-June trip in 2009. I went to Taiwan for a biz trip in September 2011. I stayed for a weekend to find "the Watermelon butterfly" Atrophaneura horishana.

[butterfly_effect]

Beautiful shots Arex! I hope I get to see these butterflies on my next trip to Taiwan!